PLAN holds snap drills in South China Sea

BEIJING, -- China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has carried out air and naval exercises in the South China Sea: a move that may be in response to the US Navy's (USN) 27 October freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) near the Spratly Islands.

Chinese state media reported that on 28 October, after the USS Lassen sailed within 12 n miles of Subi Reef, the PLAN sortied 10 warships from the South Sea Fleet based in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, at short notice for a series of exercises that included gun and missile live firings.

Subi Reef is one of the disputed Spratly Islands on which China has carried out extensive island-building and construction activities.

A missile is fired from a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship during a training exercise.